Category Archives: Housing

The New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) is looking to rezone a portion of Far Rockaway, as part of Mayor de Blasio’s $91 million commitment to revitalize the downtown business district.

As part of their ongoing effort to help return Hurricane Sandy victims to safe and sustainable homes, the Friends of Rockaway, a community-based non-profit organization, will host a fundraiser on Sunday, Oct. 30. The Dine Out for Hurricane Sandy recovery will feature seven local eateries which have agreed to donate a portion of the money raised to help Sandy victims.

Nearly a decade has passed since nine Hispanic residents first sued the Village of Farmingdale over allegations that the redevelopment of 150 Secatogue Avenue discriminated against the Latino population. Now, almost ten years later, the anti-discrimination case is heading to federal court for a trial in January 2014.

“With most civil litigation, it takes a long time,” said Stefan Krieger, a law professor at Hofstra University who took on the case on behalf of the nine former Farmingdale residents.

“[The individuals] were treated with a total lack of dignity… and we’re not going to let that happen. We’re going to continue to fight.”

The members of the Harrison Town Council have decided to defer approving a new town/village master plan and continue to hear public comment on the document until, at least, the board’s next meeting.

“There is still major work that needs to be done here,” said Councilman Joseph Cannella, a Republican.During a Dec. 3 meeting of the Town Council, residents expressed concerns over the ambiguity of several proposals put forth in the plan, which was drafted by consultants at BFJ Planning. The draft suggests an increase to property lot requirements in the two-family zone, rehashing a controversial proposal that has been the result of an ongoing battle to alter the zoning regulations within the two-family residential “B” zone.

The increase would allow for new development but restricts the 1,500 existing two-family properties to non-conforming status. This means the existing property could remain at the current 5,000 square foot lot requirement, but in the event of a disaster or major modiﬁcation, a home would have to be rebuilt in a manner conforming to the new code or seek a variance.

Originally appeared in the Dec. 7, 2012 edition of the Harrison Review.